Advice for Managers: Listen to Your Best People

Which members of your team do you spend the most time with? If you are the manager, then the natural thing to do is to delegate tasks to the best people and let them get on with the job. This then frees you to spend more time with the poorer performers who need the most help and support. This might be the obvious approach, but it can also be the wrong approach.

How would you feel if you went in to work tomorrow and your very best employee came in to see you with her resignation, and when you ask why, she says, “I have accepted a senior position at another company. I liked the work here but I never felt appreciated or involved in decision-making. It was good that I could get on with my job, but no-one asked me my opinion on strategic issues for the department or the company.” You try telling her how much you value her contribution, but by now it’s too late; her mind is made up. Top performers want to the freedom to get on with the job. They do not need to be micro-managed—in fact, they resent it—but that does not mean they should be ignored or taken for granted.

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Empowering

Empowering your best people is important. You should delegate responsibility and give them the freedom to accomplish their tasks, but don’t ignore them. Meet them regularly to discuss their progress, their ideas, their issues and their plans, and use your managerial authority to help overcome the difficulties that are impeding them from achieving even more. You could share some of the bigger departmental challenges with them and ask their input; ask their opinions and involve them in key decisions. Above all, you should praise them when they do well, let them know how important they are to you, and how much you value their contribution to the team.

Devote time for junior members

You have to spend time with the junior members and weaker performers of your team; they need coaching and support, but don’t let this get out of hand. Devote time and support to a poor performer, agree on an improvement plan with them, and monitor their progress. Discuss the plan and their performance with your HR manager, and if they fail to improve or consistently under-perform, then they should go. You cannot afford to have them draining your time and pulling down the team’s performance.

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Balance

Aim for a balanced approach. Spend time with every member of the team, getting to know their interests, frustrations, ambitions and job –related issues. A good manager understands their team both as a group, and as individuals. Every employee has different motivations, likes, dislikes, hopes and fears, and as a manager, you should know what motivates every person in your office. Why do they come to work? Every individual wants to be listened to and appreciated.

Listening

Most managers spend too much time telling and too little time listening. They focus too much on their weakest subordinates without a clear plan for improvement. They could get much more done with their team by listening more, fixing the things that hold people back and praising people for good performance. Praise and encouragement are great things for weaker staff when they make improvements, but they are also important for the top performers who can often feel taken for granted and unappreciated. Make sure that your best people know how much you value them.

50 Great People To Follow On LinkedIn, No Matter Your Industry

LinkedIn is an excellent platform to network with great people to help you in your career and businesses. However, with over 575 million people on the site, who should you follow? This list will steer you to the right people to follow, organized by categories of expertise.

Job Search Experts

You will likely have several jobs throughout the course of your career, and you will constantly need advice on new trends and strategies out there in the job market. Here are the LinkedIn experts who you should follow on these matters.

1. Liz Ryan is the CEO and founder of Human Workplace. Her articles on job searching are filled with creative and colorful cartoons.

36. If you need help in using Twitter to boost your career, Claire Diaz-Ortiz can guide you in the right direction.

37. Ryan Holmes is the CEO of Hootsuite, a social media management tool.

38. Customers are the lifeblood of a business and Colin Shaw focuses on revolutionizing this customer experience.

39. Brian Solis often reflects on the future of business and how technology can disrupt our world.

40. Nancy Lublin provides advice on more lighthearted topics, which are perfect after a long day’s work. She is the CEO behind Dosomething.org, a portal designed for social change; and the founder & CEO of Loris.ai and Crisis Text Line.

41. Katya Andresen provides advice on how to manage your career. She was the CEO of Cricket Media and now responsible for the SVP Card Customer Experience at Capital One.

42. Gallup has created a system to test what your strengths are and how to use them at work. Jim Clifton is the CEO of Gallup.

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43. Adam Grant is a Wharton Professor and the author of Give and Take, which provides advice on why being helpful at work can accelerate your career.

44. Hunter Walk is a partner at Homebrew Venture Capitalist Company and has specialty in product development and management.

45. If you’re running a nonprofit organization, follow Beth Kanter for expert advice on this area.

46. Emotional Intelligence is necessary to succeed in your career, and Daniel Goleman is your expert for that.

48. Tori Worthington Rose is a Creative Director at Mary Beth West Communications, LLC. She has extensive experience in sales and digital media.

49. If you’re looking for some advice on how to use writing and personal content marketing to boost your career, follow Ann Handley.

50. Tim Brown is the CEO at IDEO and shares his insights on Leadership and Creativity.

These are just some of the key thought leaders and movers in various industries. They will provide you with constant inspiration, as well as the willpower to pursue the career that you’ve always wanted. Their stream of expert ideas in their respective fields will help you become well-equipped in your professional pursuits.